Art Pollard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Art Pollard |
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| Born | Artle Lee Pollard, Jr. May 5, 1927 Dragon, Utah, U.S. |
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| Died | May 12, 1973 (aged 46) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
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| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 83 races run over 9 years | |||||||
| Years active | 1965–1973 | ||||||
| Best finish | 8th – 1970 | ||||||
| First race | 1965 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last race | 1973 Texas 200 (College Station) | ||||||
| First win | 1969 Rex Mays Classic (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last win | 1969 Delaware 200 (Dover) | ||||||
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Artle Lee Pollard, Jr. (born May 5, 1927 – died May 12, 1973) was an American race car driver. He was known for competing in the USAC Championship Car series, which was a top level of open-wheel racing in the United States.
Contents
A Racing Star
Art Pollard was born in Dragon, Utah, and grew up in the Portland, Oregon area. He started his career in the USAC Championship Car series in 1965. He raced for nine seasons until 1973.
Pollard competed in 84 races during his career. He was very good at finishing strong, placing in the top ten 30 times. His best year was 1969, when he won two races. These victories happened at Milwaukee and Dover.
The Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most famous races in the world. Art Pollard raced in this big event five times. He competed in the Indy 500 from 1967 to 1971. His best finish there was 8th place in 1967.
A Tragic Day
Sadly, Art Pollard's racing career ended in a tragic accident. On May 12, 1973, he was practicing for the 1973 Indianapolis 500. During his practice run, his car crashed into a wall. The car caught fire and flipped over.
Pollard was seriously injured in the crash. He was taken to the hospital but sadly passed away an hour later. He had just turned 46 years old the week before.
Life Outside the Track
When he wasn't racing, Art Pollard was busy with other jobs. He worked as a car dealer, helping people buy and sell cars. He was also a mechanic, fixing cars and keeping them running well. Before his racing career, Pollard also served his country in the United States Navy.
Racing Family
Art Pollard wasn't the only one in his family who loved racing. His cousin, Brad Pollard, also competed in different types of races. Art's son, Mike Pollard, followed in his father's footsteps and became a racer too.
Motorsports Career Highlights
Indianapolis 500 Results Summary
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See Also
- List of Indianapolis 500 fatalities
